EcoBank has officially launched a new initiative that targets businesses owned or managed by women. The new ‘Ellevate‘ programme equips women with financing, business, and leadership training as well as financial tools and resources for success.
To contribute to the continent’s economic development and financial integration, EcoBank is on a mission to empower women-led businesses to succeed. Access to finance, perceptions of creditworthiness, gender discrimination, and violence against women are some of the significant challenges that are yet to be solved.
The Women-centered ‘Ellevate’ programme will play a role in reversing some of the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on women-owned businesses. SMEs employ 90 percent of the African workforce, with a third of those entities being run by women.
During the launch, Ecobank Group’s Executive in Commercial Banking, Josephine Anan-Ankomah explain how they took time to understand the needs of women, what is required of the banking sector, and practical solutions that help bridge these identified gaps.